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Dover School Board member seeks football ban

A Dover School Board member and retired doctor suggested that football is too dangerous to be played in Dover schools.

Football has been played in Dover for more than 106 years.

Dr. Paul Butler said the game is dangerous and does not belong as an organized school sport.

"Our school district should not be supporting a game that I believe is dangerous," he said.

Butler made the suggestion during a School Board meeting Monday night. He said the potential for concussions is too great of a risk. He said concussions on developing brains can have a long-lasting impact, including the possibility of brain damage, depression and dementia.

Butler said he knows stopping the game isn't popular, but he thinks now is the time to do it.

"I suspect it's going to take a long time. This might be the first volley. It took a long time for people to wear bicycle helmets. It took a long time for people to stop smoking," he said.

Dover Athletic Director Peter Wotton said football did not have the highest percentage of concussions in Dover sports last year.

"Any sport is a target, because it feel like anytime you put kids in motion -- there is an inherant risk to playing sports and taking part in athletics, and for some reason the target is on football. I don't think it should be on anything," he said.

Wotton said girl's basketball ranked higher in concussions in 2011.

Wotton said players and parents know the risks of football and that safer tackling is being coached and players are being supervised by doctors.

"I can tell you, I think we make our student athletes as safe as possible in relation to any other school in New Hampshire, and probably the country," he said.

Several former and current students said they were surprised by the proposal.

"Well, I see their concerns of people getting injured, and stuff, but it's kind of a tradition; like football in high school, I can't imagine football just suddenly disappearing out of schools," Dover High School Senior Maddie Retrosi said.

"I think it's ridiculous. It's always been a culture around here; everybody going to the games every Friday night. It's a great time there. I don't know why they would do such a thing," Dover High School graduate David Wiggin said.

Butler said he would not drop the issue until the School Board votes on whether or not to allow football to be played in Dover schools.

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